ADB to support program enabling more disabled persons to work

MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it would support more projects in the Asia Pacific region that would enable more persons with disabilities to contribute to the economy. 

In a statement, the bank said it reinforced its commitment to this initiative by signing the Charter for Change during the Global Disability Summit 2018 held recently in London. 

The multilateral development bank said capacitating persons with disability is part of its Strategy 2030 which has among its key targets the elimination of remaining pockets of poverty in the Asia Pacific region. 

“ADB’s new long-term corporate strategy, Strategy 2030, advances social inclusion and human development, particularly of poor and vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities,” said Wendy Walker, ADB Social Development Thematic Group chief.

“ADB supports global and national efforts to accelerate implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, as well as achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” she added. 

The commitments ADB announced at the summit include developing a corporate strategic framework on disability, ensuring the inclusiveness of education programs, improving access by persons with disabilities to training and employment, and enhancing data and analysis on social protection programs. 

This is in line with the 10 commitments outlined in the Charter for Change, the official outcome document of the summit which promotes the rights, freedoms, dignity, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities through better representation; improved access to education, economic opportunities, and finance; and the use of technology for better social services, among other measures.

ADB said it has been making efforts to improve social and economic inclusion and human development in Asia and the Pacific. In November 2017, ADB approved a $25 million loan and a $2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to help finance a project to address economic, social and rights issues of people with disabilities in Mongolia. 

The project aims to improve the early identification of children with disabilities; enhance service delivery, work, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; and promote policymaking in favor of persons with disabilities.

The summit, hosted by the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom, the Government of Kenya, and the International Disability Alliance, brought together over 700 delegates from governments, donors, private sector, civil society, and organizations of persons with disabilities.